Patentable/Patents/US-9836648
US-9836648

Iris biometric recognition module and access control assembly

PublishedDecember 5, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

An iris biometric recognition module includes technology for capturing images of an iris of an eye of a person, whether the person is moving or stationary, and whether the person is located near the iris image capture device or at a distance from the iris image capture device. The iris biometric recognition technology can perform an iris matching procedure for, e.g., authentication or identity verification purposes. The iris biometric recognition module can be incorporated into, for example, a door lock assembly and other access controlled devices, mechanisms, and systems.

Patent Claims
35 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An iris biometric access control system comprising: one or more non-transitory machine readable storage media, and, embodied in the one or more non-transitory machine readable storage media a plurality of modules comprising: an iris image capture module to: by a face imager, detect the presence of a human face in a capture zone defined at least in part by a field of view of the face imager; in response to detection of the human face in the capture zone, align a lens of an iris imager with an iris of the detected human face; operate an illuminator to illuminate the iris; and operate the iris imager to produce a plurality of digital images of the iris, wherein the illuminator is operated to vary illumination of the iris synchronously with the frame rate of the iris imager to capture the plurality of digital images in rapid succession through the capture zone; and an iris image processing and matching module to: select one or more of the iris images for matching; extract a usable portion from each of the selected iris images; compare the extracted portion of each of the selected iris images to a reference iris image; in response to the comparison of the extracted portions of the selected images and the reference image, operate an access control mechanism; at least one of the plurality of modules substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique.

Plain English Translation

An iris biometric access control system uses a face imager to detect a face in its field of view. When a face is detected, the system aligns an iris imager's lens to the person's iris, illuminates the iris, and captures multiple digital images of the iris rapidly. The illumination is varied synchronously with the iris imager's frame rate. The system then selects suitable iris images, extracts usable portions, and compares them to a reference iris image. Based on this comparison, an access control mechanism (like a door lock) is activated. Pulsed illumination and image capture are synchronized using a focal sweep technique.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The iris biometric access control system of claim 1 , wherein the iris image capture module is to align the iris imager with the iris of the detected human face by operating a motor.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system described in claim 1 aligns the iris imager with the detected iris by using a motor to adjust the imager's position.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The iris biometric access control system of claim 1 , wherein the iris image capture module is to substantially synchronously operate the illuminator and the iris imager to produce the plurality of digital images of the iris.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system described in claim 1 substantially synchronously operates the illuminator and the iris imager to produce multiple digital images of the iris.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. A door lock assembly comprising: a housing, and, supported by the housing: a door lock mechanism; and an iris biometric recognition module in communication with the door lock mechanism to: detect the presence of a human face in a capture zone defined at least in part by a field of view; align the lens of an iris imager with an iris of the human face; operate an illuminator to illuminate the iris; produce a plurality of digital images of the iris, wherein the illuminator is operated to vary illumination of the iris synchronously with the frame rate of the iris imager to capture the plurality of digital images in rapid succession through the capture zone; select one or more of the iris images for matching; extract a usable portion from each of the selected iris images; compare the extracted portion of each of the selected iris images to a reference iris image; in response to the comparison of the extracted portions of the selected images and the reference image, operate the door lock mechanism; and substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the imager using a focal sweep technique.

Plain English Translation

A door lock assembly includes a housing that supports a door lock mechanism and an iris biometric recognition module. The module detects a face in its field of view, aligns an iris imager's lens with the person's iris, illuminates the iris, and captures multiple digital images rapidly. The illumination is varied synchronously with the iris imager's frame rate. The module then selects suitable iris images, extracts usable portions, and compares them to a reference iris image. Based on this comparison, the door lock mechanism is activated. Pulsed illumination and image capture are synchronized using a focal sweep technique.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , comprising a cover coupled to the housing, wherein the cover and the housing define an interior region, and the iris biometric recognition module is disposed within the interior region.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 4 includes a cover attached to the housing, creating an internal space where the iris biometric recognition module is located.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The door lock assembly of claim 5 , wherein the cover comprises a window positioned adjacent the iris biometric recognition module and the window is made of a material that is transparent to infrared light.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 5 has a window in the cover positioned near the iris biometric recognition module. This window is made of a material transparent to infrared light.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , wherein the iris biometric recognition module comprises a power supply, and powered by the power supply: an iris imager assembly and an iris imager control module in communication with the iris imager assembly.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 4 incorporates an iris biometric recognition module that includes a power supply. The power supply powers both an iris imager assembly and an iris imager control module, which communicates with the imager assembly.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The door lock assembly of claim 7 , comprising a pivot support and an electric motor coupled to the pivot support by a pivot linkage, wherein the iris biometric recognition module is supported by the pivot member.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 7 also incorporates a pivot support and an electric motor connected via a pivot linkage. The iris biometric recognition module is mounted on this pivot support.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The door lock assembly of claim 8 , wherein the iris imager assembly comprises an infrared illuminator and a narrow field of view imager adjacent the infrared illuminator.

Plain English Translation

In the door lock assembly described in claim 8, the iris imager assembly contains an infrared illuminator and a narrow field of view imager positioned next to the illuminator.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The door lock assembly of claim 9 , wherein the iris imager assembly comprises a baffle disposed between the infrared illuminator and the narrow field of view imager.

Plain English Translation

In the door lock assembly described in claim 9, a baffle is placed between the infrared illuminator and the narrow field of view imager in the iris imager assembly.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The door lock assembly of claim 7 , comprising a face imager assembly supported by the housing, wherein the face imager assembly comprises a wide field of view imager and an infrared illuminator adjacent the wide field of view imager.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 7 includes a face imager assembly that is supported by the housing. The face imager assembly has a wide field of view imager and an infrared illuminator positioned next to it.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , comprising a power supply supported by the housing, wherein the power supply is operably coupled to the door lock mechanism and the iris biometric recognition module.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 4 includes a power supply supported by the housing. This power supply provides power to both the door lock mechanism and the iris biometric recognition module.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , comprising a handle supported by the housing, wherein the handle is operably coupled to the door lock mechanism.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly described in claim 4 features a handle supported by the housing, which is mechanically linked to the door lock mechanism.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. A method for operating a door lock in response to iris biometric recognition, the method performed by a door lock assembly, the method comprising: detecting a human subject approaching the door lock, and, while the human subject is approaching the door lock: operating a face imager assembly to determine the location of the human subject's face; operating an illuminator to illuminate an iris of an eye of the human subject; operating an iris imager assembly to capture a plurality of iris images in rapid succession, wherein the illuminator is operable to vary illumination of the iris synchronously with the frame rate of the iris imager assembly, each of the iris images depicting at least a portion of the iris of the human subject; selecting an iris image of the plurality of iris images; comparing at least a portion of the selected iris image to a reference image; and in response to the comparison of at least a portion of the selected iris image to the reference image, operating the door lock; and substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using a focal sweep technique.

Plain English Translation

A door lock opens via iris recognition by detecting a person approaching. While the person approaches, a face imager locates the person's face. An illuminator lights up the iris, and an iris imager captures multiple images quickly, with the illumination synchronized to the imager's frame rate. The system chooses an iris image, compares part of it to a reference image, and unlocks the door if there's a match. Pulsed illumination and image capture are synchronized using a focal sweep technique.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the face imager assembly comprises operating an infrared illuminator of the face imager assembly and operating a wide field of view imager of the face imager assembly.

Plain English Translation

In the method described in claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition, the face imager operation involves using the face imager's infrared illuminator and wide field of view imager.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein operating the iris imager assembly comprises coordinating the operation a plurality of infrared illuminators of the iris imager assembly with the operation of an iris imager of the iris imager assembly.

Plain English Translation

In the method described in claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition, operating the iris imager involves coordinating the operation of multiple infrared illuminators with the iris imager itself within the iris imager assembly.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The method of claim 14 , comprising operating the face imager assembly in response to the human subject being detected in the range of at least about forty-five centimeters away from the door lock.

Plain English Translation

In the method described in claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition, the face imager assembly is activated when a person is detected within approximately 45 centimeters of the door lock.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The iris biometric access control system of claim 1 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 1 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique. This involves adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The iris biometric access control system of claim 18 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination during strobing.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 18 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination specifically during strobing.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The iris biometric access control system of claim 18 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 18 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a consistent signal-to-noise ratio.

Claim 21

Original Legal Text

21. The iris biometric access control system of claim 1 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 1 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique. This synchronization ensures the average light exposure remains below a defined safety limit.

Claim 22

Original Legal Text

22. The iris biometric access control system of claim 1 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique to accommodate a possibility that the subject may be in motion.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 1 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique to account for the possibility that the person being scanned is moving.

Claim 23

Original Legal Text

23. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , wherein substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly from claim 4 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Claim 24

Original Legal Text

24. The door lock assembly of claim 23 , wherein substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination during strobing.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly from claim 23 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination specifically during strobing.

Claim 25

Original Legal Text

25. The door lock assembly of claim 23 , wherein substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly from claim 23 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a consistent signal-to-noise ratio.

Claim 26

Original Legal Text

26. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , wherein substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using the focal sweep technique while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly from claim 4 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique, ensuring the average light exposure remains below a defined safety limit.

Claim 27

Original Legal Text

27. The door lock assembly of claim 4 , wherein substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronize pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique to accommodate a possibility that the subject may be in motion.

Plain English Translation

The door lock assembly from claim 4 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique to account for the possibility that the person being scanned is moving.

Claim 28

Original Legal Text

28. The method of claim 14 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Plain English Translation

The method from claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination.

Claim 29

Original Legal Text

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination during strobing.

Plain English Translation

The method from claim 28 for operating a door lock using iris recognition synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination specifically during strobing.

Claim 30

Original Legal Text

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique by varying the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

Plain English Translation

The method from claim 28 for operating a door lock using iris recognition synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by adjusting the light intensity of the pulsed illumination to maintain a consistent signal-to-noise ratio.

Claim 31

Original Legal Text

31. The method of claim 14 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.

Plain English Translation

The method from claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique, ensuring the average light exposure remains below a defined safety limit.

Claim 32

Original Legal Text

32. The method of claim 14 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using a focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination by the illuminator and iris image capture by the iris imager assembly using the focal sweep technique to accommodate a possibility that the subject may be in motion.

Plain English Translation

The method from claim 14 for operating a door lock using iris recognition synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique to account for the possibility that the person being scanned is moving.

Claim 33

Original Legal Text

33. An iris biometric access control system, comprising: one or more non-transitory machine readable storage media, and, embodied in the one or more non-transitory machine readable storage media a plurality of modules comprising: an iris image capture module to: by a face imager, detect the presence of a human face in a capture zone defined at least in part by a field of view of the face imager; in response to detection of the human face in the capture zone, align a lens of an iris imager with an iris of the detected human face; operate an illuminator to illuminate the iris; and operate the iris imager to produce a plurality of digital images of the iris, wherein the illuminator is operated to vary illumination of the iris synchronously with the frame rate of the iris imager to capture the plurality of digital images in rapid succession through the capture zone; and an iris image processing and matching module to: select one or more of the iris images for matching; extract a usable portion from each of the selected iris images; compare the extracted portion of each of the selected iris images to a reference iris image; and in response to the comparison of the extracted portions of the selected images and the reference image, operate an access control mechanism; at least one of the plurality of modules substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique by varying light intensity of the pulsed illumination during strobing to maintain a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

Plain English Translation

An iris biometric access control system uses a face imager to detect a face in its field of view. When a face is detected, the system aligns an iris imager's lens to the person's iris, illuminates the iris, and captures multiple digital images of the iris rapidly. The illumination is varied synchronously with the iris imager's frame rate. The system then selects suitable iris images, extracts usable portions, and compares them to a reference iris image. Based on this comparison, an access control mechanism (like a door lock) is activated. Pulsed illumination and image capture are synchronized using a focal sweep technique by varying light intensity of the pulsed illumination during strobing to maintain a predetermined signal to noise ratio.

Claim 34

Original Legal Text

34. The iris biometric access control system of claim 33 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination and iris image capture using the focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination and iris image capture using the focal sweep technique while an average irradiance of the illumination source remains below a safety threshold.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 33 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique, ensuring the average light exposure remains below a defined safety limit.

Claim 35

Original Legal Text

35. The iris biometric access control system of 34 , wherein substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination and iris image capture using the focal sweep technique, comprises substantially synchronizing pulsed illumination and iris image capture using the focal sweep technique to accommodate a possibility that the subject may be in motion.

Plain English Translation

The iris biometric access control system from claim 34 synchronizes pulsed illumination and iris image capture using a focal sweep technique to account for the possibility that the person being scanned is moving.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

October 8, 2014

Publication Date

December 5, 2017

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